Windshield cleaner



Jan. 17, 1939. FQLBERTH r AL 2,144,454

- WINDSHIELD CLEANER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 3, 1935 (Ittomegs F. G. FOLBERTH ET AL WINDSHIELD CLEANER Jan. 17, 1939.

Filed June a, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2- ks a 3nventors REFER/CA" 6 P0135277! W/lZ/AM IV- FOZB ETH attornegs Jan, 17, 1939. F. G. FOLBERTH ET AL 2,144,454

' WINDSHIELD CLEANER Fil-ed June 3, 1935 5SheetsSheet 3 3noentors v FEEDHP/CK 6.7012027 A54 WILL/AN MI'OZBEFT/f Jan. 17, 1939- F. G; FOQLBERTH ET AL WINDSHIELD CLEANER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 3, 1935' n automobiles today of a fluid p m 15 windshield cleaners clean only a I shield it is necessary motor and squeegee in front of the 20 seat. Even with such an a and the result is relatively 30 the windshield which has stantially the I which occurs over the the squeegee engages o ward stroke 'oi the shape and proportions I Patented 17, 193

,g.;. June 5 Evie This invention; relates to apatue for removing rain, snow sleet, etc from the wind-z shield or windows of an automotive vehicle and more particularly to an improved form of 5 shield cleaner adapted to be operated by the pressure difference existing between the atmos-' phere and the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine of an automotive vehicle.

The usual type of windshield cleaner used on actuated motor, either of the reciprocat vane piston type, which s an arm a rubber squeegee or the like through an are on the outer surface of the wineld. These 'c-.-cl1\l1a1' area immediately-1n front of the driver. if it is desired to clean more of the or the dto install an. addlflonal tau "ement only two semi-circular areas on the win d are cleaned poor-visibility, ticularly when wet show which clings to the windshield is failing.

1ntheusuali-ypeoiwinoleanei'aliove.

referred to, in which the i re; moves in a semi-circular path and cleans a su semi-circular area on the windshield, the-squeegee is constantly in contact with the outside of glass. During a portion of the stroke or the wiper or squeegee, =.-i of whether the wiper swings from the bottom or the top of the glass, the squeegee is moving upwardly. The result oithis is that water or snow been removed from the 1 --r eld on the downward stroke of the squeegee may be again carried backup over the clean surface on the upward stroke of the sq e ee."

In order to overcome the vantages an defects of the above noted types of windshield cleaners we have devised an improveddshield cleaner which is w to clean sub entire surface of an automobile windshield and which overcomes the trouble surface of the windshield 1;, to eld when the squeegee mom upwar durthe provision of a a regs, (Ci.

the proon of an improved which is entirely automatic day automobiles; windshield cleaner.

in operation and which derives its operatingforce from the pressure diflerential between the atmosphere and the intake manifold of an automotive vehicle; the provision of a windshield cleaner which, when not in use,

drawn to a position completely out of the of vision of the vehicle operator so that it dow not in any way interfere withfnormal driving; the provision, in a windshield cleaner of the vacuum or pressure actuated type. of a valve operating mecha such that the movement oi the valve to shift the movement of the wiper from one direction to the opposite direction cannot take place untilthe wiper has moved suntiaily to its limit in the first direction regardless of the speed oi operation of. the device; the provision of a windshield wiper in which the moving parts are enclosed and which is adapted to give long and trouble-free service.

Theabove and other objects of our will appear from the following description of one may be invention 'ement thereof, reference had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a rear-elevation, looking. from the driver's seat, showing our improved windshield cleaner installed on the windshield of an automobile and illustrating the area adapted to be cleaned by the squeegee.

Figure 2 is an ed slightly more than life size, an tion, of the cylinders, piston an valve mecha-l nism of the cleaner with the valve cover plate and some of the valveactuating for the sake of better illustration. 1

Figure 3 is a detached front elevation of the valve ho bloclnwith cover plate removed. Figure 4 is a section taken on line H oi Figure 3.

Figure ure 3.

s is a section taken on line cg 7 is a section taken on line l-i oi 8 is'a section taken on line i 5 is a section taken on line oi parts removed controls the movement of the squeegee towardand away from the windshield in another w mm 7 i Figure 11 is another fragmentary plan section generally similar to Figure 9 but illustrating the valve which controls the movement of I the squeegee toward and awayfrom the windshield in still a third position.

, Figure 12 is a sectional view looking into the valve mechanism taken on line l2--l2 of Figure 2 and illustrating the entire mechanism in assembled position with the valve cover plate on. Figure 13 is a fragmentary cross section taken on line I3l3 of Figure 2 but illustrating the valve completely assembled.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line l4-'l4 of Figures 12 and 2.

Figure 15 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 2 but illustrating the device with the piston and valve operating mechanism in position. Figure'lfi is a plan view, partly in section, lllustrating the left hand device for moving the squeegee toward and away from the windshield and for imparting the swinging movement to the squeegee.

Figure 17 is a view taken on line ll-l'l of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a cross sectional view looking upwardly and taken on line I8-|8 of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a detached cross section of the rotatable diaphragm housing, diaphragm, rotatable squeegee operating shaft and in-and-out squeegee operating shaft.

' Figure 20 is a fragmentary plan section, partly in section, illustrating the wiper operating arm and one of the devices which moves the squeegee toward and away from the windshield glass.

Figure 21 is a cross section taken on line 2 l--2l of Figure 20,.

Figure 22 is a detached elevation of a control valve guiding member.

Figure 23 is a. section taken on line 23-23 of Figure 22.

Figure 24 is a detached elevation of the piston control valve friction member.

Figure 25 is a detached elevation of the piston control valve actuating member.

Figure 26 is a. section taken on line 26-46 of Figure 25.

Figure 27 is a detached elevation-of the oscillating yoke which actuates the valve mechanism.

Figure 28 is a section taken on line 28-28 of Figure 27.

Figure 29 is a fragmentary view, partly in vertical cross section, illustrating a modified cleaner arm supporting arrangement from that shown in Figures 20 and 21.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly to Figure 1, the windshield illustrated at I may be of any suitable shape and size. By varying the length of our squeegee bar 5 and the degree of piston angular movement of the squeegee operating arms 3 and 4 our cleaner may be adapted to clean a greater or less area of a windshield glass of any usual shape, as will appear later. The operating are all mounted on a spacing bar 2 which in turn may be secured either tothe bottom of the windshield frame or any other suitable portion of the vehicle. The squeegee operating arms 3 and 4 are disposed on the outside of the windshield (opposite to-the side on which the devices A, B and C are disposed) and may be operated by suitable shafts (later described) which extend through to the outside of the windshield frame. The squeegee bar 5 is pivotally attached at 6 and I to the operating arms 3 and 4.

It will be seen from Figure 1 that the squeegee bar 5 is attached on the side of the arms 3 and 4 toward the surface of the windshield glass I. When the arms 3 and 4 are moved about the centers of the devices B and C from the dotted position indicated at 3' and .4' to the dotted positions indicated at 3" and 4" the squeegee bar 5 will move from the position indicated at 5 to the position indicated at 5" and the shaded portion on the windshield I will be swept by the squeegee. Inasmuch as the arms 3 and 4 are always parallel to each other, as will later appear,

the squeegee 5 will always be maintained in a,

horizontal plane. The pipe or tube 8 is preferably connected to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine of the vehicle on which the apparatus is installed. It will be understood, however, that any other source of lower than atmospheric pressure might be utilized. It will also be understood that, if desired, our apparatus might readily be adapted to be operated by the pressure differential between a source of atmosfold suction, the pistons contained in the cylinders will move tht operating rod II] to the left.

This, as will fully appear later, will cause the arms 3 and 4 to move to the right and the squeegee 5'will be lifted. As the arms 3 and 4 continue to swing to the left they and the squeegee 5 will pass through their full line positions in Figure 1 and the squeegee will then start downwardly until it reaches the dotted position 5".

By means of our improved mechanism, as will clearly appear. from the following description thereof, during the upward movement of the squeegee 5 from the position 5' to its full line position (Figure 1) it will be held away from and out of contact with the surface of the wind-' shield. However, as soon as the squeegee reaches its full line position (Figure 1) it will be drawn into cleaning contact with the windshield and 1 will remain in cleaning contact during the downward movement of the squeegee until it reaches the position 5". When this position is reached the valve mechanism is reversed and the rod l0 will be caused to moveto the right. At the same time the squeegee will be moved outof contact with the windshield glass and will remain out of contact as it swings upwardly and to the left into the central full line position of Figure 1. When the central positionis reached the squeegee will again be drawn into contact with the glass and will engage it until the position 5' is reached. This cycle of movements will be repeated as long as the device is in operation.

From this explanation it will be seen that the squeegee bar 5 only engages the glass during its downward movement and is completely removed from the glass during all of its upward movement. 'Thus, any water, snow or the like which strikes the windshield will bescraped down and out of the line of vision of the operator and will not be pushed back up over the windshield during the upward movement oi the squeegee as is move together. From the are connetted by suitable pipes 'nects with the passage frequently the case with the usual windshield cleaner.

By'properly squeegee 5, the

proportioning the length of the length of the am and d and by properly spacing the devices B and C, praccylinders and valve apparatus indicated at A in Figure 1 comprise a pair of oppositely disposed cylinders ii and i2, rectangular in cross section,

might, if desired, be

but which cross section.- The inner as illustrated made of round or other ends of these cylinders are flanged as shown at p i3 and these flanges are adapted to slide into grooves in the top and bottomwalls id and it of the valve housing and cylinder supporting member which may be generally referred to by D. Pistons i6 and I1 are disposed in the cylinders i i and i2 respectively and are rigidly connected by the connecting bar it sothat they outer end of the cylin- IB and from the outer 20. These passages 2i and tubes 22 to the proper ports of the valve mechanism as der ii leads the passage end of cylinder [2 a passage will be later described. The inner ends of the,

cylinders ii and I2 are open and connect directly with the interior of the valve housing D. This housing D may be vented to the atmosphere by suitable apertures 23. i

As is best seem in Figures 3 to Z inclusive the valve housing block D is provided with a number of apertures'or passages for (air in the described embodiment). A tube 2d connects with the passage 25 whichin turn con- 26 having an outlet at the surface 21 of the valve housing-block D. Adjacent the hole 26 are similar holes 23 and 29 which extend inwardly from the surface 21 of the block and join the upwardly extending passages 30 and 31 respectively. The upper end of passages 30 and 3| are connected to the surface 21' of the block by passages 32 and 33. A hole 34 is disposed midway between the holes 32 and 33 and connects with the transverse passageway 35 from the opposite ends of which'extend the tubes. 36 and 31. "Leading off from the passages 30 and 3|, between their connections with the holes 26, 29, 32 and Hate the transverse passages 39 and 40 which connect at their outer ends with tubes 4|v and 42 respectively.

All of the operating fiuid conducting passages have been described in the paragraph above. The block D also contains a number of holes which accommodate certain parts of the mechanism. Extending outwardly from the surface 21' is a projection 43, the lower portion 44 of which extends out beyond the upper portion. A hole '45 extends through through the wall of the block D. As will later appear this hole serves as a bearing and'guide .for the main operating shaft of the motor. A

transverse hole 46 extends through the block and intersects the hole 45. This hole 46, as will later appear, guides and serves as a bearing for the reciprocating rod member III, which actuates the wiper mechanism. Immediately below the hole is a smaller hole 41 which supports and guides a valve interlockingdevice as will be later described. Near the bottom of the surface 21 is a. hole 48 having an enlarged outer end portion the actuating fluid operated by the rotation of the shaft this projection 43 and ea in which certain parts of our valve s are supmrted. i

As is seenin rigor-e12, cover plates 86 and Bi are secured to the rear l and front sides respec-'- tively of the valve housingblock D. The cover plate bl is'movlded with an aperture through which projects the end 52v of the rotatable main shaft member 53. The coverv plate 56 serves to maintain the shaft 58 in its position in the hole d5 in the block D. -.Extending transversely through the hole file in the block" Dis the actuating rod it on thet'central part of which are cut teeth forming a rack which engages the teeth at the front end of the shaft 53.

A double ended actuating lever 56 (see Figure it) is mounted on the opposite'or rear end of the shaft 53. The lever member 6t includes a 4 spiined portion d? which is. adapted to fit over the'teeth on the end of the shaft 53. It will be seen in Figure 12 that the underside of the lever 56 rests against the portiondd of the projection t3 and it will be seen that when the arms 56' and 56" of the lever 58 are oscillated the shaft 53 will be given a corresponding oscillatory movement and, due to the teeth 55 on the shaft and the teeth he on the redid, this rod it will be given a reciprocating movement in the hole d6 of the valve block D. and 56 of the lever 56 are pins 58 and 59 which are adapted to engage slots 6d and Si in the bar it which connects pistons lb and ii. .As is best seen in Figure 15 the connecting bar it is formed with an onset portion i6 and the slots 6d and 6! extend into this ofiset portion. This offset arrangement makes it possible for the pins 58 and 59 of the'lever member 56 to enter and leave the slots as and ti as the pistons l8 and ill move back and forth in the cylinders.

When the parts are in the positions shown in Figure 1d the next movement of the apparatus willbe that of the pistons l6 and ii to the left. This movement will be transmitted through the engagement of the slot at and the pin 58 to the oscillating lever 56 and will cause the shaft 53'to rotate in clockwise direction. As this movement progresses the pin 69 will move in a downward arc and the slot 68 will move to the left. Due to the offset portion of the connecting member 58, the pin 59 will enter the slot 6i before the pin 58 leaves the slot 60 and thus the movement of the pistons I6 and ii and the connecting bar It will "be transmitted without interruption to the gscillating lever 66 and the main operating shaft We will next describe which the proper fluid connections are made to cause reciprocation of the pistons-l6 and IT in their respective cylinders. This valve mechanism is probably best seen in Figures 2, 12 and 13 and consists broadly of a"snap-.over type of valve,

is adapted to instantaneously shift the connection from the intake manifold of ,the vehicle enzinc from the cylinder Ii to the cylinder I2 and vice versa. The valve also connects the cylinder,

.which is not connected to the vacuum, to the' atmosphere. The three holes 26, 28 and 29 in the face 21 of the valve block'D are spaced so as to make it possible to connect the hole 26, which leads to the' intake manifold through the tube 8, to either the hole 28, which leads to the left hand end of the cylinder II, or the hole 29, which leads to the right hand end of the cylinder l2, through the tubes 22, pipes 2| and openings l9 and 20 respectively. It will be understood that when the the valve mechanism by 53, which At the ends of the arms 56' hole 26 is ,connected to the hole 28 (as shown in Figure 2) the reduced pressure in the intake manifold will be applied to the left hand end of the piston. l6. As at that time the hole 28 will be exposed to the interior of the valve housing and thus to the atmosphere through the holes 28, the atmospheric pressure wilt be effective upon the right hand end of the piston l'l. Due to this difference in pressure the pistons l6 and H and their connecting bar l8 will be moved to the left. Likewise when the hole 26 is connected to the hole 28 and the hole 28 is exposed to the atmosphere the pressure difierential will be effective to move the pistons l6 and I1 and the connecting bar |8 to the right (Figure 2).

In order to effect-these connections between the hole 26 and the holes 28 and 28 we have provided a button shaped valve member 62' (best seen in Figure 14). This button valve 62 is concave on its underside and, as is seen in Figure 14, is-adapted to straddle the hole 26 and either of-the holes Hand 28. In Figure 14 (and Figure 2) the button serves to connect the holes 26 and 28 and the hole 29 is connected to the atmosphere. The button valve 62 slides on the surface 21 of the valve block D and is guided in its movement by a suitable slotted aperture 63 in the plate 64. This plate 64 is held in position on the surface 2'! by the pins 65 and 66 which extend outwardly from the surface 21 and are supported in the holes. 48 and 61. The plate 64 is seen in detached views in Figures 22 and 23. The movement of the button valve 62 is further guided and controlled by the very thin sheet metal friction member 68 (Figure 24) which has a hole adapted to fit over the top of the button valve 62 and another hole 68 which engages the pin 65. Immediately above this thin sheet metal member 68. is disposed the oscillating member 18 which causes the actual movement of the valve button 62. This member 18 is seen in detached views in Figures 25 and 26 and it will be seen that it is provided with a somewhat elongated slot H which fits overthe top of the button 62. The member 18 is also provided with downwardly extending legs 13 and 14 which are adapted to strike the pin 66 (Figure 2) and limit the movement of the member 18 about the pin 65 on which it is pivoted. As is seen in Figure 26 the member 18 is bent and has a rearwardly extending portion 15 having a hole l6 which together with the hole 11 form bearings for the member 18 on the pin 65. The member 18 also includes a portion which is bent rearwardly just below the slot H and is formed-witha tab or lug 18 having an aperture 18. One end of the coil spring 88 is secured in the hole 18 and the other end is hooked to the lower end of the horse-shoe shaped member 8|. This spring is normally. maintained in tension. The member 18 is caused to swing back and forth about the pin 65 as a pivot due to movement of the horse-shoe member 8| which causes the upper end of the spring 88 to move from one side to the other of a line drawn between the -pins' 65 and 66. When the upper-end of the spring 88 moves to the right of a line drawn between the centers of the pins 65 and 66 (Figure 2) the valve actuating member 18 will snap over to its opposite position in which the leg I3 will engage the left hand side of the pin 66. Also,

. when the horse-shoe member is moved sothat the upper end of the spring 88 moves from right to left across a line drawn between the centers of the pins 65 and 66 the member 18 will snap is formed a cam surface 88 and a 2,144,454. over to the left until the leg 14 strikes the pin 66. When this snap-over movement of the member I8 takes place the button valve 62 will also be shifted. The thin metal friction member 68 is interposed between the members 64 and 18 to prevent the button valve from moving too freely and to maintain it in one position until moved into another by the member 18.

In order to cause the above described movement of the horse-shoe member 8| and the upper end of the spring 88 we have provided a' swinging yoke member 82 which is pivotally mounted atits lower end on the pin 66. This yoke member 82 is illustrated in detached views in Figures 27 and 28 and includes an outer rim portion 83 and a transverse bar or rib 84. On the inner side of the upper part of the rim 88 are formed gear teeth 85 which engage the teeth on the shaft 53 for purposes to be later described. A lug 86 extends upwardly from the top of the rim 83 and is provided with a slot 81 which, as will be later described, is effective in moving the valve which controls the movement of the squeegee toward and away from the windshield. On the upper edge of the cross piece 84 portion 88 extends from the lower edge of the transverserib 88. A hole 88 is formed in the lug 88 into which the upper end of the horse-shoe shaped member 8| fits. The bottom end of the member 82 is bent as shown in Figures 27 and 28 and is provided with holes 8| and 82 which fit the pin 66 and provide a pivot about which the member 82 may swing.

As is seen in Figure 2 the horse-shoe shaped member 8| is provided with book shaped ends, the lower hook carrying the upper end of the spring 80, while the upper hooked end fits into the hole 88 in the portion 88 of the cross arm 84 of the member 82. As the teeth 85 of the member 82 engage the teeth on the end of the shaft 53 the oscillatory rotation of the shaft 58, carried by reciprocation of the pistons l6 and II, will cause a corresponding oscillatory movement of the member 82 about its pivot pin 66'. This movement will cause theupper end of the horse-shoe member 8| to travel in an arc and spring 88 will cause a snap-over action of the valve button 62 as has been previously described. The horse-shoe shaped memb? 8| is so shaped in order to fit around the pin 65 which supports and forms a pivot for the valve moving member 18 and it will be understood that if the pin 65 did not interfere a straight link could be substituted for the horse-shoe shaped member without changing the mode of operation.

In order to prevent the snap-over mechanism above described from operating the valve button 62 before the member 82 has traveled the desired distance and before'the pistons l6 and I1 have traveled a distance great enough to give the desired movement in one direction to the wiper arms 3 and I, we have provided means for interlocking the oscillating member 82 and the valve operating member 18 so that the member 18 cannot carried at the upper end of the shaft 88 and anarcane other finger 01 extends downwardly from the shaft 96 and, in the assembled valve, lies in the same plane as the tongue 08 of the member 10.

- position shown in Figure 2 or its corresponding position on the oppositeside of a vertical center line drawn through the shaft 53 and the shaft 95.

Referring particularly to Figure 2 the member I0 may be considered to have just snapped over into the position shown. This snap-over action could not take place, however, until the finger 90 could clear the end of the finger 9i. When the member 82 swings to the right, which will immediately take place on account of the position of the button valve 62, the finger 9i will also be moved to the right and will prevent the member 10 from snapping over into its other position (from that shown in Figure 2) until the member v as 82 has reached a position on the right hand side of said center line corresponding to the illustrated position on the left hand side of the center line.

With the usual vacuum operated windshield cleaner the are through which the cleaner bar swings varies with the speed at which the device operates. Generally speaking, the slower the speed of oscillation of the bar the smaller the angle through which the'bar travelsQ with our just described the speed of operation of the device will not aflect the time at which the valve snaps over and thus a uniform interlocking mechanism movement will be imparted to the cleaner bar regardless of the speed of operation of the device.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 illustrate the valve mechanism which is utilized to control the flow of actuating fluid to and from the diaphragms in the members B and C which control the engagement of the cleaner bar 5 with the windshield. Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-0 of Figure 2. In this view the slide valve I00, which is formed with the central seat portion IM and the end seat portions I 02 and I 03 equally spaced from the cen-" tral seat IN, is in its left hand position in which the holes or ports 32 and 33 are closed by the seats IM and I03 respectively, the hole or port 30, which connects with the transverse passage 35 to the diaphragm devices B and C and thence through the tubes I05 and I00 respectively, is

completely disconnected from the intake manifold vacuum. When this situation exists the arms 3 and 4 will be forced outwardly by suitable springs (to be described later) to lift the cleaner bar 5 away from the glass. Due to the position of the valve button 62 (Figure 2) only the port 32 will be connected to the vacuum and the port 33 will be connected to the atmosphere. Thus, as the valve I00 moves from left to right into its midposition shown in Figure 10 the vacuum in the port 32 will be shut ofl from the port 30 and the devices B and 0. During the movement of the arms 3 and 4 from the positions 3" and 4' to 0" and 4" (Figure l) the vacuum member 82 and, due to.

the position shown in Figure shaft III which is first half of the this rod III, as seen in Figures the reduced pressure will be applied through the hole 35 and the tubes I05 and I06 to the devices 3 and C and the cleaner bar 5 will be drawn into cleaning position against the glass. These vacuum connections will be maintained until the seat I02 covers the port 32 as shown in Figure 11. At approximately the same time as this occurs the button valve I52 will be snapped over to its other position and the port 33 will becomeconnectedto the vacuum source while the port 32 will be connected to the atmosphere. Now the direction of movement of the valve I00 will'be reversed and it will. start to move to the left from 11. During the first one-half of its total movement to the left the port 33, which is now connected to the vacuum, will be shut off from the port 3 which leads to the de-' vices B and C and'during substantially the last one-half of the movement of thevalve' I00 to the left the port 34 willbe connected to the port 33 and the cleaner bar 5 will be drawn into cleaning engagement with the windshield. I

The valve I001 is provided with an outwardly projecting pin I01 which fits in the slot 81 in the member 82. Thus, as the member 82 is oscillated back and forth by ,the movement of the shaft 53, the valve I00 will be carried therewith. It will be seen from the above description that the operation of the valves 62 and- I00 is synchronized and timed so that the desired movements of the various parts of the apparatus will take place at the desired times and in the proper order.

As the devices B and C are identical only the left hand device 3 will be illustrated and describedin detail. Referring to Figures 16 to 21, the tube I05 which leads from the passage 35 in the valve block D is connected to a tube I I0 which leads'to the central boss III on the inside of the cover plate II2. A hearing H3, preferably of rubber or other material which will provide a fluid tight joint around the is mounted in the boss II I. The hole through the pipe I05 is extended into the chamber formed in the boss III (see Figure 18) and as the trunnion I I8, which supports one end of the rotatable diaphragm chamber H5, is hollow, a fluid con:

tubular trunnion IIt,

motion is provided into the interior of the dia--- phragm chamber M5. on one side of the flexible diaphragm IIB (Figure 19). The rotatable diaphragm chamber assembly includes a hollow secured to the diaphragm housing I I5 on the side opposite to the trunnion IIII. Gear teeth III? are formed on the shaft II'I adjacent the housing H5.v The diaphragm H6 is suitably clamped between the halves of the chamber H5 and carries a rod II9 which extends out through the hollow shaft III. This rod H9 is threaded at its outer end for purposes which are later described. The side of the diaphragm H6 opposite to the hollow trunnion H4 is connected to the atmosphere throughthe holes I20 in the housing I I5.

As has been explained above, the trunnion H0 has a bearing in the boss III and the shaft III has a bearing in a tubular extension I2I- on the housing I22 (see Figure 18). This housing I22. is recessed to accommodate the gear teeth IIB on the shaft II! and is formed with a transverse aperture I23 which guides and forms a bearing for the operating rod I 0. Teeth I0 are formed on 16 and 18, which are adapted to engage the teeth II8 on the shaft III. As has been previously explained, the oscillation of the pistons I6 and I! in the-cylinders,

II and I2 will cause the rod I0 to move back and forth in the direction of its length. This movement will be transmitted to the shafts III of the devices B and C and will cause oscillatory rotation thereof. The diaphragm chamber H5 and its associated parts will also rotate with the shaft IIG.

A spring I24 normally maintains the diaphragm H6 in position so that the rod II9 extends out of the shaft III a maximum distance.

Now, when the vacuum of the intake manifold is connected to the lower side of the diaphragm II6 (Figure 19) the diaphragm will be moved and the rod H9 will be drawn into the shaft III. This movement will cause the arms 3 and the wiper bar 5 to move inwardly so that the squeegee will engage the glass of the windshield.

As is seen in Figures 16, 17 and 19 the tubular portion I2I of the housing I22 extends through the windshield frame I25 and is held in place by a suitable nut I26. It will be understood that our mechanism may be mounted in manners other than those described if found desirable or necessary in any particular installation. The connecting or spacing bar member 2 may be secured to the housing I22 by suitable screws I21.

Referring now to Figures 20 and 21, the attache ment of the arm 3 to the shaft II! will be described. The arm 3 is preferably made of chan nel cross section and the end, which is secured to the shaft I", has side flange portions I30 and I3I and a connecting web I32. The outer end of the shaft II! is grooved on opposite sides, as is seen in Figure 21. An arm member I33, also of channel cross section, is secured to the shaft II! by its end flanges being clamped in the side grooves of shaft II! by the screw I34. The side flanges I30 and I3I of the arm 3 fit down over the sides of the member I33 and are pivotally secured thereto by a pin or screw I35. Thus, it will be seen that the arm 3 is rotated with the shaft II! but is also free to move toward and away from the windshield glass I36 (Figure 20). Normally the arm 3 is held away from the glass by the spring I31, which, as seen in Figure 20, engages the pins I34 and I35 and the web I32 of the arm 3. An adjustable cap I36 has threaded engagement with the ends of the threads on the rod I19. By adjusting this cap I36 the position of the arm 3 when it is away from the glass I36 may be regulated. The web I32 01 the arm 3 is provided with a hole I39 through which the rod II9 extends. v

When the diaphragm II 6 is moved under the influence of the operating pressure to draw the rod II9 into the shaft 1, the bottom flange of the cap I38 will push against the web I32 of the arm 3 and cause the arm 3 to be swlmg about the pivot pin I35 until the squeegee bar 5 engages the windshield glass I36. At the outer end of the arm 3 is a pin I which projects toward the windshield. The squeegee bar-5 is provided with a sleeve I which fits over the pin I40. The flt between the pin I40 and the sleeve I is pref-g erably rather loose to allow for the angular movement of the arm 3. The -pin I40 may be grooved at its outer end to accommodate a transverse pin 0 I42 which extends through the sleeve I40 and prevents the squeegee bar 5 from tached from the arm 3.

The device C and its connection to the arm 4, and the squeegee bar 5 are exactly the same as those just described. It is believed that the opbecoming deeration of our improved windshield cleaner device will be apparent from the above description and that it will be evident that we have provided a windshield cleaner adapted to clean substantially the entire surface of an automobile windshield and to effect the cleaning only during the downward portions of the. movement of the squeegee bar. I

In Figure 29 we have'illustrated a modified means for supporting the arm 3, which corresponds to and performs the same functions as the arm 3 of Figures 1 and 20. In Figure 29 the rotating tubular shaft I I1 and the rod II9 are substantially the same as and perform substantially the same functions as we have illustrated and described in connection with Figures 18, 19 and 20. However, in Figure 29 a spring carrying shaft end member I is secured to and rotates with the tubular shaft Ill. The 'rod II9 extends through a suitable hole in the top of the member I50 and is preferably provided with a flanged head I I 9 which rests against but is not secured to the top of the pivoted arm supporting bracket I 5| This bracket is preferably shaped substantially as shown in Figure 29 and is pivotally mounted on a pin I52 which extends through and is supported by the member I50. A relatively thin flat spring I53 has one end secured in a suitable slot in the member I50 and its other end engages a notch or groove I54 in the member I5I.

When the parts are in the positions shown in full lines in Figure 29 the outer end of the spring I53 exerts a downward pressure on the member I 5I and tends to hold the arm 3' and the squeegee bar supported thereby in engagement with the windshield. The rod H9 operates in exactly the same manner as was described in connection with Figures 18, 19 and 20 and it will be understood that when the arrangement of Figure 29 is used the spring I24 (see Fig. 19) will be made stronger than the spring I 53 so that the diaphragm II6 will normally be held in the position shown in Figure 19. When in this position.the head I I9 of the rod II9 will engage the underside of the top of the member I5I and will maintain-the arm 3' and the cleaner bar away from the windshield surface. When the vacuum is applied to the underside of the diaphragm II6 (Fig. 19) the diaphragm will move inwardly and the rod II9 will be moved'away from the member I5I and the spring I53 willbe permittedto move the arm 3' toward the windshield causing engagement of the squeege with the glass.

In dot and dash lines in Figure 29 we have illustrated the completely disengaged position of this apparatus. The spring I53 is so shaped and is so guided by the-lips of the slot I55 in the member I50 that when the arm 3' is manually moved away from the-windshield it reaches a point where the force of the spring I53 becomes efiective to tend to continue the movement of the arm 3',away from the windshield instead of toward the windshield. This outward movement of the arm- 3' will be limited by the engagement of the end of the member I5I with the lower left hand corner of the member I50, as is seen at I56 is Figure 29. ."I his feature of our apparatus is of value in that it permits the windshield cleaner bar to be moved completely away'from the windshield surface to remain in this position until 'it is snapped back into operating position. This greatly facilitates wiping 011 of the entire windshield with a cloth when it becomes dirty and does not in any way interfere with the normal operation of the windshield cleaner. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that this supporting arm'construction is adapted for use with all types of windshield cleaners and might readily and advantageously be used with the usual type of cleaner having a single squeegee bar which is oscillated through an arc by the supporting arm.

Although we have described the illustrated embodiment of our invention in considerable detail it willbe understood by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications, variations and changes may be made in the form and type of the mechanism employed. We do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the exact structureherein illustrated and described, but claim as our invention all embodiments thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims,

We claim:

1. In a windshield cleaner or the like, a squeegee bar extending in a substantially horizontal direction, a main fluid pressure actuated motor, operating connections between said motor and. squeegee bar whereby said bar will be moved over'the windshield in an arcuate path while being maintained in said substantially horizontal position, fluid pressure actuated means for moving said squeegee bar into cleaning contact with the surface of the windshield and valve means operated by said fluid pressure actuated motor for controlling said fluid pressure actuated means whereby said squeegee bar will be held in cleanfluid pressure actuatedmotor and an auxiliary fluid pressure actuated motor, said main motor including a cylinder and piston operable therein,

fluid pressure conducting connections from sourcesof different fluid pressures to said cylinder and said auxiliary motor, main valve means for controlling said fluid pressure connections to the cylinder whereby said piston will be made to move back and forth in said cylinder, said valve means being actuated by the movement of said piston, and a supplemental valvemeans, also actuated by movement of said piston, for controlling the fluid connections to said auxiliary motor.

3. In apparatus for cleaning a windshield glass or the like, a pair of spacedrotatable shafts supported adjacent. one of the substantially horizontal edges of the glass, parallel arms mounted one on each side of said shafts, for rotation therewith, a squeegee bar pivotally supported on each of said arms at points substantially equidistant from said shafts, fluid pressure actuated means for simultaneously oscillating said shafts and arms whereby said squeegee will be given an arcuate movement over the surface of the glass while being maintained in a substantially horizontal position, supplemental fluid pressure and spring actuated means for moving the cleaning edge of the squeegee into and out of engagement with the surface to be cleaned, and means for controlling the operation of said supplemental fluid pressure and spring operated means whereby said squeegee will have cleaning engagement with the glass during a portion only of the movement of said squeegee.

4. In apparatus for cleaning a windshield glass or the like, a fluid pressure actuated motor having a valve housing and a rotatable shaft, a

diaphragm housing supported inspaced relation ing and to said rotatable shaft extending out from said diaphragm whereby reciprocating rotation of said valve housing shaft will cause a corresponding reciprocating rotation of said diaphragmhousing shaft, 2. squeegee supporting arm pivotally carried by saiddiaphragm housing shaft and extending over the windshield glass, a squeegee bar mounted on said arm, a diaphragm in said diaphragm housing, .a rod connecting said diaphragm and said squeegee supporting arm whereby movement of said diaphragm will effect movement of said arm and squeegee bar carried thereby toward or away from the windshield glass, a fluid conducting conduit extending from said valve housing to said diaphragm housing, fluid conducting connections in said valve housing connecting said valve housing-diaphragm housing conduit to the source of other than atmospheric pressure and valve means actuated by rotation of the shaft in the valve housing for controlling the connections between said diaphragm chamber and the source of other than atmospheric pressure whereby said squeegee bar will be held against the windshield glass during a portion only of its movement.

5. In a windshield cleaner or the like Ma squeegee bar, means for moving said squeegee bar over thewindshield surface, fluid pressure and spring actuated means for effecting movement of said squeegee bar toward or away from the surface of the windshield, and valve means, operated by said means for moving said squeegee bar over the windshield, for controlling said fluid pressure and spring actuated means whereby said 5 FV'REDERICK G. FOLBERTH. WILLIAM M. FOLBERTH. 

